nning, when the "lights-out"
gong sounded through the hall and the girls scurried wildly for their
beds.

Amanda and Eliza were already in theirs, and Rose, coming in at the last
minute, fairly flew into her nightgown and then scurried over to put out
the one remaining light.

The room had been in silence and darkness for nearly five minutes when
suddenly Laura leaned over and whispered to Vi.

"What would you do if a burglar got in?" she asked.

"I'd just get under the covers," said Vi, "and die off fright!"

CHAPTER XII

TOO MUCH TO EAT

If any one had told the three girls that the second day would hold more
of excitement and pleasure than the first, they would not have believed
it. But so it was.

Billie woke early that morning and found the sun shining gloriously
through the window. It took her a minute or two to realize just where
she was. Then she sat up in bed and looked across at her two sleeping
chums.

Laura lay on her side, hugging her pillow, and Violet was flat on her
back, blissfully unconscious of the ray of sunshine that fell across her
face.

Billie's glance traveled from them to Rose Belser, who looked as pretty
asleep as she did awake, and from her to Amanda Peabody and Eliza Dilks.

She made a little grimace as she looked at them, for their straight,
stringy hair and pinched, freckled faces were a striking contrast to
Rose's prettiness.

"Oh, I wish everybody'd get up," she thought. "It must be nearly seven
o'clock."

Even as she spoke the first bell rang, and the sudden sharp noise
through the still Hall made her start up in bed. It roused the other
girls, and they yawned and stretched sleepily.

"Goodness, is it time to get up already?" asked Laura, glaring at Billie
as if it were all her fault. "Why, I just this very minute got to
sleep."

"You'd better stop talking and get up," Rose called to them, flinging
back her black hair and jumping to her feet. "We have only half an hour
to get ready for breakfast, and if you're late and haven't any
excuse--well, don't expect any sympathy from Miss Cora, that's all."

The girls did not need any second hint to make them hurry, and full ten
minutes before the breakfast gong rang they were ready and waiting.

There was great excitement in the dining hall, for this was the day when
the old students of Three Towers Hall were expected, and the girls who
had remained at the school for the summer vacation were eager to renew
old fri